Fabric softener ejector



Feb. 3, 1959 s. M. BLOOM 2,872,076

FABRIC SOFTENEIQ EJECTOR Filed July 17, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 5/7/7062 /7. 8600 7 EL-MKW ous forms,

FABRIC SOFTENER EJECTOR Samuel M. Bloom, Dayton, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Morris Nison, Dayton, Ohio Application July 17, 1956, Serial No. 598,331 I 12 Claims. (Cl. 22270) This invention relates to dispensers and more particularly to a mechanically controlled automatic dispenser of a highly simplified and economical nature. The sub ject invention was specifically developed to provide a self contained dispenser unit for fabric softener for application in automatic washers as an individual accessory unit presenting no installation problem. The dispenser afforded by the invention incorporates a mechanical timer control for effecting a dispensing of fabric softener therefrom at a predetermined portion of the washing cycle.

There have been a great number of dispensers developed in the liquid dispenser art. They have come out in varishapes and sizes. However, the development of new aids to washing clothes in automatic washers, has clearly indicated an absence of a simple and economical mechanically controlled dispenser unit which could be simply applied to the washer Without the need for any wiring or the like installation. By effecting this, the housewife can then employ the various softeners and bleaches in this self contained unit which will automatically dispense the materials involved at the precise instant of the washing cycle in which it is required. This saves the housewife from having to watch the machine during the washing cycle so that she doesnt forget to add the fabric softener and the like. Prior to the present invention, the dispensers available were much too complex and expensive to incorporate in automatic clothes washers for such purposes.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a compact automatic dispenser for fabric softener and the like which is of a self contained and a mechanical nature and which can be quickly mounted within an automatic clothes washer by an ordinary housewife.

The preferred embodiment of the invention as presented herein contemplates its application to the under surface of the top cover or trap door covering the loading aperture of an automatic clothes washer.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved economical self contained dispenser unit of a mechanical nature.

A further object is to provide a simplified mechanical dispenser unit particularly applicable to automatic washers.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a self contained unit for automatically dispensing fabric softener and the like which has means positively sealing the unit and positively metering the softener therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a self contained automatic dispenser unit for fabric softener and the like which has a simple touch suspension means incorporated therein for firm mounting thereof-within an.

automatic washer or the like in a matter of seconds.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic self-contained dispenser unit for application as an accessory in an automatic washer wherein the controls are of a highly simplified nature and positively sealed in compacted form within a section of the unit.

nited States Patent Another object of the invention is to provide an improved, simplified automatic dispenser unit of a self contained and mechanical nature which possesses the advantageous features of construction, the inherent meritorious characteristics, and the mode of operation herein disclosed.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention intended to be protected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation, as hereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, or their equivalents.

In the drawings, wherein is illustrated the preferred but not necessarily the only form of embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a bottom or front view of the fabric softener dispenser unit as afforded by the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top or rear viewof the self contained unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of Fig. 1 taken along line 33 thereof;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary view of an alternate mag netic mounted means for the self contained unit provided by the invention.

The invention can best be described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof shown in the drawings. As shown, a rectangular casing 1 is provided having a control chamber 2 and a fluid chamber 3. The embodiment shown is intended to be mounted to the undersurface 4 of the trap door 5 of a top loading automatic,

The casing is accordingly connectedby suction cups in fixed, releasable fashion to the trap door 5.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, means defining a filler aperture 8 is provided in one end 9 of the casing 1 for introducing the fabric softener or the like in the fluid chamber 3 therein. The apertured wall 9 of the casing is internally threaded for engagement by an externally threaded filler cap 10. A gasket 11 is provided between the head of the filler cap 10 and the casing about the aperture 8 therein to effect a complete seal of the casing 1. An air relief vent 12 is provided in the upper or rear wall 7 of the casing 1 adjacent the filler cap 10. An inner wall 13 is provided in the casing 1 to connect thereto and form the rectangular control chamber 2 therewith to one side thereof adjacent the filler inlet to the casing 1 and the fluid chamber 3 to the other side thereof.

A control plate 14 is trol chamber 2 parallel casing wall 7. This pivotally mounted within the conto and in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting is provided by a the wall 7 and projecting perpendicularly inwardly therefrom to engage in one end of the plate 14 which is pivotally mounted thereon thereby.

provided which has one end thereof bifurcated and pro ecting through an aperture 17 in the central inwardly projecting portion of the control plate 14 is received in the bifurcated extremity of the valve rod 16 and is pivotally connected thereto by a pivot pin 18. A valve stem seal 17' lines the aperture 17 in the control chamber 2 to seal about the valve rod 16 as it extends in bearing relation therethrough. As will be noted with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings, in the normal mounting of the dispenser casing l, the valve rod 16 extends generally longitudinally in the casing; initially in the plane of the plate 14. The rod 16 is oflset externally of the control chamber 2 at 19 and the Patented Feb. 3,1959

37 other or metering extremity 20, of the rod runs parallel to and adjacent to the bottom or front wall 21 of the casing 1 and into an apertured portion 22 of easing 1 at one; end of. the fluidrchamben' 3 opposite thefiller inlet:- A= valve guide well-23 definesthetdispensingfaper ture 22L1in the: casingand-projects inwardlys of the. chambet 3- adjacent': the bottom" or front wall of the casing.- 1-;, An Orringi valve: seal 24 seatsinza circular recess: about the metering end of the rod 16 in the well-231m" positively: and normally seal theiapenture 22'. Inter mediate its: extremitieszthe: well 23-: is: provided with a series ofrcircularly arranged: apertures: aster; purposes as wilhbevdescrihed;

Thererrd. of plate. 1'4"01111081'16; the? pivoted end. thereof has a: cam: follower: pin. 2 therethrouglr and projecting perpendicularly therefrom. Imthecontrol chamberZ. is mounted-a controlhousing:26rc0nstituting a conventional springppowered; single wind mechanical. timer unit; A.

control shaft 27 extends from the housing 26 inwardly of; the: chamber 2; parallel to; pin 1 25.

A control cam.28= fixed to the inner. end of shaft 27- 28. The timer housing 26 has a setting control shaft 3:1?axially'projectingthrough the-outer wall of the chamberzZ and-almobfizaisfixed to the outer endof shaft 31 tov provide theitimer setting knob.

As willfb'e obvious from inspection of the preferredembodiment of the.- invention, in this instance-the res-- ervoir or chamber. isfilled whilethe casing 1 is vertical, as shown in: Fig; 3 .of'the drawings, while the fluid ejects horizontally asthe door of the washer is closed' for operation.

Thus, in. the.- use of the preferred embodiment of the invention in-an? automatic washer having a top" cover, thecasingl is first filled by removing the cap and introducing fabric softener or the like in the fluid chamber 3. The casing is then applied quickly by means of the suction cups 6 to the under surface of thewasher door 5. The knob 32 is then turned to time the controls to be operated at a predetermined instant in the washing cycle.

The door 5 is then closed preliminary to initiating the This disposes the casing 1 and the controls therein from a vertical filling position to a automatic washing cycle.

relatively horizontal operating position. At the set time, the control unit 26 energizes shaft 27 to drive cam 28 which is peripherally engaged by follower pin on the free extremity of control plate 14'. As the cam lobe 2L9 engages the pin 25, the plate 14 is cammed outwardly towards the casing wall and pivots about pin 15. By means of its central pivotal connection to the bifurcated end of the valve rod 16, as the plate14-is pivoted, its motion is linearly induced in the valve rod 16. This displaces the metering extremity ofthe valve rodinwardly of the chamber 3. in the valve guide well 23 until the 0 ring" sealis disposed inwardly of apertures 33 therein. As this occurs, noting Fig. 3 of the drawings, the fabric softener will automatically discharge at that instant through apertures 33 in the valve guide well and outwardly from the. casing into the washing machine. This occurs very quickly. As the cam lobe 29 clears the follower pin 25 the spring 30 automatically reversely pivots the plate 14. This reverse pivoting is transmitted to effect a. displacement of the valve rod 16 to dispose the ring seal 24 in the outer extremity of the well 23 to positively seal the well thereby and the discharge aperture from the casing i. Thus, the discharge is effected quickly and automatically and the relation of. the rod i6 and. the ring seal 24 to the inwardly projecting,,.well;insures.

a prompt effective seal 4 of the casing so that only the precise amount of discharge is effected and there will be no leakage of fluid through .the well and into the washer otherwise.

The compact effective sealing of the control mechanism for rod 16 insures a minimum dispenser package that protects the controls from undue deterioration from the fluids stored inthe. chamber 3. The number and nature of the control elements are minimum in number, and present the utmost. in mechanical simplicity to meet the required needs. The'unit is so economical that if out of repair it will be economical to replace rather than repair; Of'course, it is contemplated thatthe discharge opening location; may be varied to suit'the application, but the embodiment shown is the preferred form of the invention and functions with the maximum eliiciency and versatility.

A modifiedr form of; mounting means for the: casing 1 is shownvin'Fig." 5 of the drawings. As; seen: therein, permanent magnet mounting blocks 35 are set in recessed portions 36 of thercasingzl ase-substitute for the suction cups 6"provided in the preferred embodiment. of the.

invention Thus; tomount-the' casing 1 with. these. magnets35-incorporated therein, the userneed' merely apply the mountingiside off the: casing to the metal trap door of the washer :and the-casing :will be instantaneously. fixed in positionrin; the washer; This form of mountingzmeans for the casing is even more simple and compact and: accordingly advantageous;

From: the above description there.;is:thus providedadeviceof the character described possessing:- the" particular: features of. advantage before enumeratech assdesirable, butwhich obviously issuscepth ble of modification; in its form proportions, detail; con.-

struetion and: arrangement of parts without departing;

from the principle: involved. or sacrificing any of: itsadvantages.

While in order to complywith'the statute the. invert:- tionrhas been described'iinlanguage more or lessgspecific as tosstructural features; it is. to be understood. that the invention is. notlimited to the specific features shown, but that the means and constructionherein disclose comprise but alxfewof the several modes of putting the inventiornintoi effect;

Havingithusdescribed my invention, I claim:

1. A dispenser for use in automatic washers to auto matically dispense. fabric softener or the like comprising', a: casing, means defining a control section and a storage section: inv said casing, a. normally seated filler aperture. insaid casingopening to said storage section, a valve rod having one end thereof in said control chamber and'projecting. through saidsection defining means in bearingzsealing relation thereto to dispose its other end in.normallysealingrelation to and within an outlet from said casing in said storage section, and control means for said valve rod lying completely within the control section. off said. casing and mechanically set to provide an automatic operation of said valve rod at a predetermined partof the washing cycle for measured dispensing of. the fabric' softener therefrom.

2. A dispenser for fabric softener or the like comprising avsealed casing having means defining a sealed control chamber and a sealed: fluid chamber therein, means normally sealing a filler aperture to said fluid chamber, means defining anoutletaperture from-said fluid chamber, a control plate pivotally mounted in said control. chamber atone end'thereof; a controllable ele-- ment at theother end of said control pla.e, a valving rod it will. be. apparent. that by to open said outlet aperture for a predetermined interval.

3. A dispenser for fabric softener and the like comprising, a normally sealed casing having means connected therewith defining a sealed control chamber and a fluid chamber therein, means normally sealing a filler aperture to said fluid chamber, means defining an outlet aperture from said fluid chamber, a control element pivotally mounted in said control chamber at one extremity thereof, a valving rod means pivotally connected at one end to said control element intermediate its extremities and we tending in sealing relation through said chamber defining means to normally engage in and seal said means defining the outlet aperture and automatically preset means in said control chamber, operable on the other extremity of said control element to automatically pivot said control element to withdraw said valving means inwardly relative said means defining the outlet aperture for a preset interval for discharge of fluid through said means defining the outlet aperture.

4. A self contained unit for automatic dispensing of fabric softener and the like comprising, a rectangular flat casing having means connected therewith defining a sealed control chamber, a normally sealed filler aperture in one side of said casing, means defining an outlet aperture in an opposite side of said casing, a valving rod connected in said control chamber at one end and in said means defining the outlet aperture at the other end thereof, means about said valving rod normally sealing said casing, and self contained mechanical control means in said control chamber operable on said valving rod to reciprocate it at a preset time and provide for discharge of fabric softener or the like from said casing for a predetermined interval thereby, said means defining the outlet aperture affording fluid outlet from said casing internally thereof.

5. A self contained automatic fluid dispenser unit for use in automatic washers comprising, a sealed casing having means internally thereof defining a sealed control chamber therein, mechanical automatic acting control means in said chamber having manual setting means on one face of said casing connected thereto, means on an opposite face of said casing for sealing connection of said casing to a wall of the washer, a control element in said control chamber pivotally mounted therein at one end thereof and operated on by said automatic control means at the other end, a valve guide well defining an aperture from said casing and projecting internally thereof, said well being circumferentially apertured within said casing, and valving means connected at one end to,said control element and having rod means at the other end normally sealing the apertures in said well whereby, on setting of said automatic control means, said valving means will be reciprocated at a predetermined instant in the washing cycle to clear said rod means of said well apertures for a preset interval for ejection of fluid therethrough and out said casing.

6, The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said connecting means on the opposite face of said casing are provided by suction cup means arranged to give the greatest adhering force opposite the position of said manual setting means.

7. The structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said casing connecting means are provided by permanent magnet blocks seated to said opposite face of said casing.

8. A self contained automatic dispenser unit for application to the trap door of a washer comprising, a casing having means connected thereto for touch suspension from the trap door of a washer, control means mounted to said casing in sealed fashion, said casing affording a fluid chamber having means defining an inlet and means defining an outlet therefrom which are horizontally related,'a valving rod horizontally disposed and having one end operatively connected to said control means and the other end normally sealing said means defining the outlet, said control means including mechanical timing means preset to cycle said rod for a predetermined interval at a specific period in a washing cycle for dispensing of fluid into the washer.

9. An automatic self contained dispenser unit applicable for use in automatic washers comprising, a casing having means connected therewith internally thereof to define a fluid chamber and a control chamber therein, means defining an inlet to said fluid chamber, supporting means connected to said casing for quick mounting thereof within a washer without tools, means defining a discharge well from said fluid chamber having circumferentially arranged apertures therein, mechanically operable automatic control means connected in said control chamber and valving means operatively connected to said automatic control means and having means normally sealing the discharge well apertures, said automatic control means being mechanically preset for operation of said valving means at a predetermined interval for clearing said well apertures for discharge therethrough.

10. An automatic dispenser of a self contained nature for use in a washing machine to dispense fabric softener or the like comprising, a casing having means on one wall thereof for touch suspension from an inner surface of a washer, a sealed chamber to one end of the casing, said casing having means defining an inlet and an outlet therefrom, a control plate pivoted at one end thereof to the wall of said casing in said chamber, means projecting from the other end of said control plate, a valve rod connected at one end to said control plate and extending from said chamber in sealing relation thereto and having its other end offset and normally sealing the means delining the outlet from said casing, and control means of a preset nature mechanically operable on said means projecting from the control plate for a predetermined interval to cycle said valve rod for said interval for ejection of fabric softened or the like from said outlet.

11. An automatic mechanical dispenser comprising, a casing having means defining an inlet and outlet there from, a control element pivoted at one end thereof to said casing, a valve rod having one end bifurcated to receive said control element therein and pivotally connect thereto, said rod having its other end bearing in said means defining the outlet, means, connecting to said control element and said casing to normally bias said rod to seal the outlet, and automatically and mechanically operated cam means for operating on the other end of said control element to cycle said valve rod to open said outlet for a predetermined interval.

12. An automatic dispenser for fabric softener and the like comprising, a casing having means for adhering suspension thereof, means defining a filler inlet to said casing, means defining a horizontally directed outlet from said casing, automatic control means sealed in said casing, a valve rod horizontally disposed in said casing having sealing means at one end thereof bearing in said outlet defining means, means at the other end of said control rod operatively related to said automatic control means, and a manual control element externally of said casing and connected to said control means for presetting thereof for cycling of said valve rod to clear said outlet defining means for ejection of fabric softener and the like therethrough.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,780,392 Nonhof Feb. 5, 1957 2,785,831 Smolin Mar. 19, 1957 

